Pelops myth

Ancient history of Olympic: Olympic. It is not just a word; it is a name, which bears thousands of people's hope, millions of people's dream and gives the courage to face the challenge to athlete to reach their goal. However, the first starting of Olympic is mysterious. In myths, they give lots like how it started at the beginning where some of the myths are Pelops myth, Hercules (Herakles) myth, Zeus myth etc. but the most popular and common myth among them is Pelops myth.

Pelops myht: Pelops (Pelop' isle) was a prince of Lydia in Asia Minor. He wanted to marry Hippodameia, the princes of Pisa. However, by an oracle Hippodameia's father King Oinomaos came to know that her (Hippodameia) husband would kill him. Therefore, he proposed Pelops to a chariot race with him and declared that if he wins the game, he could have Hippodameia as wife and if he losses, he would be beheaded.

Pelops was an handsome and intelligent young man. He understood that it was impossible to win the race against Oinomaos, because his chariot horses were undoubtedly very fast. So, he made a secret plan with his charioteer Myrtilos. According to the plan, they replaced the bronze axle pins of king's chariot with wax.So when the race started at a time the wax melted by the sunshine and the king thrown from the chariot and died on the spot.

 

Like that, Pelops won the race and proclaimed the winner. After winning the race, Pelops married Hippodameia. He gradually started to organize chariot race as funeral games to honor of King Oinomaos. The funeral race was first  held in Olympia and form there the game is recognized by Olympic.

It was written in myth that King Iphitos of Elis restored the game again after a long time and at first he established the crown of leaves as a prize which made by Hercules's olive tree. Since then as a part of tradition, this crown of olive leaves has been given to the winner.